What .38 Special ammo?

[Bushman]

I just got new bigger grips for my S&W M60 SS .38 Special and I've been away from .38 Special loads for quite a few years. That little gun was not much fun to shoot with those factory mini grips. I've got to pick up some ammo at Cabela's in a week or two, so I'm wondering what the favored self defense load going is for a 2" .38 Special these days? It used to be the 158 grain lead wad-cutter, but I was just reading my new Guns & Ammo magazine and there was the mention of a Federal 129 grain Hydra-Shok JHP + P. Cor-Bon makes some pretty stout loads for that cartridge too. I just could never get too excited about shooting a lead bullet. With a 2" barrel, accuracy past "up close" isn't going to be a contributing factor. Thanks.

[Gil Martin]

I have a Model 60 and carry it most of the time. I use 168 grain Keith lead semi-wadcutter reloads. Before someone points out that reloads may be a potential liability in self defense use, my personal view is that it is better to be tried by twelve than carried by six. The factory ammo I used to use were 158 grain jacketed solid or hollow points. All the best...
Gil

[MOGC]

I like the Buffalo Bore 158 gr. Lead Semi Wadcutter Hollowpoint with a gas check base. I use the non +P version in lightweight snubbie J-frame guns and the +P in the steel K-frames. Check them out on the Buffalo Bore website, it is really quality ammo and performs very well. If I didn't use that it would be the Speer Gold Dot Short Barrel 135 gr. hollowpoint.

[Bushman]

Those Buffalo Bore and Cor Bon's really grew up my little .380 mouse gun, so they would likely do that for the Special as well. Do LEO departments ever take into consideration seasonal heavier clothing in the winter in their ammunition choices?

[MOGC]

Regarding seasonal clothing... not that I am aware of. I know some people play around with that sort of thing. I don’t, penetration is king – always. I'm not a Cor-Bon fan at all; I have had too many experiences of poor quality and erratic pressures. Buffalo Bore on the other hand has always been first rate. I have chronographed enough BB stuff to tell you they give you what they promise.

[Hi Ball]

MOGC.......ME TOO!!! Yep, if I was packing a .38spl, I would have hardcast bullets with a large metplate on them period. Those things penetrate and as You stated, penetration is KING and always will be in my eyes. :cool::D

[Hi Ball]

Bushman, check out Beartooth Bullets.com, they have some of the very best hardcast bullets for sale and a great sight as well.

Hunt America has gone to the Dogs! So long been good to know ya!!!:)

[Bushman]

I'm stuck buying factory stuff, but thankfully there are some very good manufactures out there. I used to load 38 Specials with wad-cutters at my buddy's house with Bullseye if I remember right. The thing with that hot powder is that the cases don't get filled very much. Good I was shooting them through a K-frame M66 .357 as one sure felt and sounded hot. The only thing I was thinking was that we double charged one of the cases. Good that we were not using a hotter load. I never team reloaded after that night. If I remember right we even loaded ourselves with some liquid libation about the same time that we were doing ammunition. Wrong, wrong, wrong!!! Probably better with factory stuff ever after.

[Hi Ball]

Bushman when I reload, there is nobody else there with me to distract in anyway. Now if I am going to be reloading a lot of ammo, (1000rds) I will let the wife help package the stuff but she doesn't chit chat like most women do. It is all business in the reloading room! ;) :D :D

[Dennis Keith]

If it's factory you're "Stuck" with try to find the Hornady. I carried that for my 66 because GARDA made us load down from the .357 so 125 JHP/XTP 900 fps at the muzzle with 817 left at 100 yards. Don't know how well they work on anything other than paper, but it is respectable.